College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California · Public · 10,207 undergraduates
Of 10 programs with reported earnings, 9 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 1 fall short. Another 92 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $14,872 |
| $30k to $48k | $15,071 |
| $48k to $75k | $17,137 |
| $75k to $110k | $20,621 |
| $110k and up | $21,969 |
| All families (average) | $15,728 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | Associate's Degree | $39,201 | +$2,225 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $52,620 | +$15,644 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $45,349 | +$8,373 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's Degree | $44,704 | +$7,728 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's Degree | $106,782 | +$69,806 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Sociology | Associate's Degree | $35,465 | -$1,511 | falls short | n/a | n/a |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | Associate's Degree | $59,719 | +$22,743 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| History | Associate's Degree | $49,234 | +$12,258 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | Associate's Degree | $47,357 | +$10,381 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate's Degree | $40,391 | +$3,415 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
Access and outcomes: 38% of students receive Pell grants · 31% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.